Lani Kai to set the scene for country music video

March 9, 2018

An up-and-coming country music artist will be trading cowboy boots for sandy shores next week.

Beau Braswell will be shooting a music video for his debut country album on Fort Myers Beach Wednesday, with the Lani Kai serving as the backdrop for the song, "Sunny Days."

Braswell's first claim to fame is his career in motorcycle sports: he's a six-time winner of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) National Championship.

Article Photos

Image courtesy of Beau Braswell

Image courtesy of Beau Braswell

But racing isn't a lifetime sport, and Braswell is trading the dirt track for dirt roads, a choice that ties back to his native Nashville roots.

"When your first field trip was to the County Music Hall of Fame, you get baptized by that," he said. "If you go out on a Friday night, you're in the mecca of country music."

He's still racing, but making the transition with his first album. Braswell describes his style as "definitely" traditional in county music terms, with influences from Alan Jackson, George Strait and Hank Williams, Jr.

"I can't rap," he said. "I'm not Florida Georgia Line."

Braswell released a single, "Sideways," in 2014 that tied his two passions together: the song's music video was also for the AMA Pro Flat Track Motorcycle Race series.

It won't be Braswell's first visit to the Lani Kai - he said he's been a half dozen times now, visiting a friend who DJs in the area.

After Hurricane Irma, Braswell helped deliver pallets of water, donated by Walmart, to the city of Fort Myers in his tour trailer.

Right now, Braswell's in Daytona, preparing to perform at the International Speedway as part of the Dayota Bike Week. Then he and the crew will pack up and head to the other coast. He said he plans to stop in Doc Ford's, one of his favorite spots.

Braswell and his crew will be filming Wednesday, March 14, but he wants to reassure everyone is welcome to the party, locals and the spring break kids as well, he said.

"It's not a closed deal, it's not just for the kids," he said. "Anybody that wants to come and enjoy the Lani Kai and some music, let's do it."

He's called the town of Fort Myers Beach to clear the video, and said everyone had been very welcoming to allow him to use the beach for his video.

Melissa Schneider, the Lani Kai's marketing director, reiterated that the resort will still be open, and invites everyone who'd like to join the party.

"We're thrilled to be hosting such an amazingly-talented, up-and-coming country music superstar," she said. "We know we'll be able to offer the perfect backdrop for Beau's new summertime-fun song."

The content of the song makes the Lani Kai the perfect setting. The song itself hasn't been recorded and cut yet, but Braswell wanted to hit up the popular resort in the peak season of spring break.

"You've got a song that lends itself to a good time, a feeling good summertime anthem, and that's what the Lani Kai is," he said.